Rent car if staying at BW?

[AmyDek]

We are a family of 4, two toddlers and will be staying at BWV. We were originally planning on staying at either AKV and renting a car to drive to all resorts or BLT with no car rental. We are trying to avoid the buses with the kids- with the bulky double stroller and my husband having to hold onto it while I wrangle both kids on a bus, plus the waiting at stops etc. just isn't a good mix with my kiddos.

Now that we're staying at BWV do you think it's worth renting the car? Since two parks are walking distance I'm wondering if we should just bus it to the others. Then again we will likely go to MK the most and the bus ride to and from there is a long one.

What are your thoughts and recommendations.

thanks

 

[rwdavis2]

If you are fine with the buses then don't rent. I think the walk to DHS takes a little while. My wife and I are staying at BWI this November and will still rent a car. For several reasons:

• We can run out to a store if necessary. We usually eat breakfast in the room so we buy food for that. Buy snacks and water too.
• We just like to have the option of leaving a park and not being at the mercy of WDW transportation.
  
• We plan on going offsite for a day.
• IMHO, it's quicker to drive to the parks in most cases.

 

[OKW Lover]

If you are staying at BW then a car is only useful on park days if you are going to AK. From BW its a short walk to Epcot (don't bother with the boat, its quicker to walk) and a longer but still doable walk to DHS (or take the boat). However, when driving to the MK you'll need to park in the main TTC lot and then take the tram to the monorail/ferry in order to get to the MK which kind of nullifies the convenience of a car.

 

[hsmamato2]

OKW lover is right..... MK is a nightmare to park and get over there, bus is much easier.... (BTW I love the BW area,the walks are so relaxing) I would recommend NOT bringing a giant double stroller, two compact strollers is a smarter choice ...I could never understand why people drag those huge strollers around,when there are so many nice,inexpensive compact choices.....(I myself was fan of combi brand when my kiddos needed them)

 

[rwdavis2]

Since we usually arrive at MK for rope drop parking is not usually a problem. We then take the ferry over from TTC. It's a nicer ride than the monorail,IMHO.

 

[epsmith921]

The bus to MK from Boardwalk isn't terrible at all in my experience, and I am not a fan of the bus. What we did was get up early for rope drop at MK, then around lunch we'd head back to BW by taking the monorail and then walking through Epcot to the International Gateway. That is an indirect route (and lengthy) and requires park hoppers, but I will say that waiting for a boat was probably worse for us than waiting for a bus. Around lunch, the bus back to BW would be pretty empty if we had taken it (not many were leaving the parks then).

We just like Epcot and the monorail though. Also, depending on if you're tram riders or not, the bus would potentially be an easier place to deal with the stroller than the tram.

I would personally skip the car. Heck, we even rode the friendship boat around the loop on arrival night without even entering a park. Our two year old loved it.

 

[PSUGuy]

If you are staying at BW then a car is only useful on park days if you are going to AK. From BW its a short walk to Epcot (don't bother with the boat, its quicker to walk) and a longer but still doable walk to DHS (or take the boat). However, when driving to the MK you'll need to park in the main TTC lot and then take the tram to the monorail/ferry in order to get to the MK which kind of nullifies the convenience of a car.

Agreed, but we rent a car to go to AK, Raglan Road and for grocery stops. Also we like to linger at BW on our get-away morning and a car allows us to choose our own departure time.

Bill From PA